April 8, 2021 – Syracuse, NY –
Alonzo Murphy will be entering his third year in the TBL, including last year’s season that was cut short due to COVID-19. Murphy played his first two years with the Albany Patroons. Within his first season, he was able to be claimed as a TBL champion. He will still play for a winning organization, but this year he will play in different colors. Earlier this year, the Albany Patroons announced they would sit out the 2021 TBL season due to COVID-19 restrictions in their area. With this decision, which followed after the 2021 draft, the Patroons surrendered all player rights with their roster. This decision turned Murphy from a Patroon into a free agent.
Murphy brings a lot to the table as a player with height and good rebounding capabilities. Most importantly, he brings with himself a championship history from the Albany Patroons. Capitalizing on his free agency was the Syracuse Stallions. They played it safe by giving him an invite to training camp. It seems that he must have caught many eyes at camp as his signing to the roster was also met with a missing name for the 2021 season….. Dajuan Coleman. This decision shows commitment by the Stallions to go with Murphy and it shows how much they trust his experience in the TBL.
With more minutes and a bigger role, this is a chance for Alonzo Murphy to add value to his playing abilities and give himself a greater opportunity at a pro contract. To Murphy’s benefit, he will be coached by a man with a resume of success in Head Coach Nick Perioli. In just his first season as the Stallions coach, Coach Perioli led the Stallions to a 19-2 record in the ABA. The league chnage will be an adjustment and that is why the Stallions have brought on players such as murphy.
The Stallions have been known for a very fast paced offense, but they will have to transition to the TBL’s improvement in defense in comparison to the ABA. They will need to focus on possession and Murphy’s rebounding capabilities will be called upon greatly to secure the Stallions a playoff berth. Only time will tell if Alonzo Murhpy will finally have the jump start he needs to truly make a name for himself in the TBL. Catch Murphy and the Stallions in action tomorrow Friday April 9th, 2021 at 7pm at Bishop Grimes High School in East Syracuse, NY as the Stallions face off against the South Shore Monarchs in their TBL season and home opener.
